Vikings' Jasper Brinkley calls for top 5 finish in defense

Linebacker Jasper Brinkley doesn't fully know how bad it got last season for the Vikings on defense. And he doesn't care.

Brinkley played for Minnesota from 2009-12 before returning after one season in Arizona. What he missed last year was the Vikings ranking 32nd and last in the NFL in scoring defense and 31st in total defense.

So what.

"This year we want to be in the top five in every defensive category," Brinkley said. 'That's from the coaches on down. It's possible. We've got a great group of guys here. We can get it done."

Vikings first-year coach Mike Zimmer, a longtime defensive coordinator, is known for turning units around. But top five? Minnesota hasn't finished that high in total defense in 20 years and in points allowed in 26 years.

Vikings linebacker Jasper Brinkley brings down Bears running back Matt Forte in the second quarter at Soldier Field in November 2012. (Pioneer Press: Chris Polydoroff)

Well, there is a guy who was around last year who agrees with Brinkley that it's possible.

"If we keep doing what we've been doing, keeping the defensive calls, I think the sky is the limit for us," said defensive end Brian Robison. "Absolutely, I believe that we can get (in the top five). I believe it's just a matter of whether we can execute and do the things that we need to do to get there."

True, it's just the preseason. But so far the Vikings have done those things.

In a 30-12 preseason win Saturday at Kansas City, the Vikings didn't give up a touchdown until there were 25 seconds left in the game and the field long had been flooded with reserves. For the game, they had three interceptions, five sacks and allowed the Chiefs just 285 total yards.

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In three preseason games, the Vikings are allowing just 15.3 points per game, about half of the 30.0 they gave up during the 2013 regular season. They're allowing 291 yards per game, more than 100 yards less than the average of 397.6 teams rolled up in 2013.

"When you look at things, we had all the pieces in place (last year) to get things done and we just didn't get it done," Robison said. "Bottom line is that it comes down to executing on defense. It comes down to calls and all sorts of stuff. You go across the board, and we just didn't play good ball last year."

The new coaching staff might not exactly agree on all the pieces having been in place. While Minnesota's offense could return 11 starters from last year, there could be as many as seven new starters on defense.

The Vikings sought to get younger on that side of the ball. Longtime stalwarts on the defensive line Jared Allen, 32, and Kevin Williams, 34, did not return as free agents.

Among the five sacks Saturday were half-sacks by Brinkley and defensive end Everson Griffen. Brinkley has a slight edge over Audie Cole to start at middle linebacker and Griffen has had a great preseason after re-signing with the team on a five-year, $42.5 million contract to replace Allen as a starter at defensive end.

"The more we can do, as far as putting plays in and bringing different people from different sides, flipping back and forth with guys, it keeps the offense off-balance," Robison, who also had a half-sack Saturday, said of the pass rush.

The three interceptions came from cornerbacks Captain Munnerlyn and Shaun Prater and linebacker Chad Greenway. Munnerlyn has become a likely starter after signing in March as a free agent.

The Vikings' most decorated free-agent signee was defensive tackle Linval Joseph, who has missed the past two preseason games due to a minor calf injury sustained when was grazed by a bullet as an innocent bystander in an Aug. 9 shooting at a Minneapolis nightclub.

Joseph is expected back for the Sept. 7 regular-season opener at St. Louis. So Minnesota's defense could be even better after the 328-pound run stopper returns.

"I hope so," Zimmer said of the Vikings showing strides on defense during the preseason. "I know they are studying really hard and in tune with everything we're trying to get done. Obviously, there's quite a few things we need to work on that we need to get better at. It's good to get some interceptions. Usually, when you get around the quarterback, good things happen."

Finishing top five in every defensive category certainly will take some work. The Vikings haven't finished that high in total defense since 1994 and not in points allowed since 1988.